I think we're about to see a shift in form with respect to the public reaction towards "Mmmmmmmm, Mmmmmmmm."

The critiques of "Mmmmmmmm, Mmmmmmmm," is about to zenith. And, when it does, there's no where for it to go but down - because energy cannot be destroyed.

And, I think what's going to happen with "Mmmmmmmm, Mmmmmmmm," is that the "beating" (for lack of a better word) that he's had to take now will result in a responsive swell of sympathy for what he had to endure (during this time).

Think of Bill Buckner. He went from good-guy to villain to poor-victim status in the eyes of many Red Sox fans. It's something like that. And, sure, some still want blood for Billy - but, it's nothing like it was when he first became the bad guy.

Dwight Gooden sort of falls into this pattern as well. He was a legend, then a bum, and later a sympathetic figure.

Of course, in the cases of Buckner and Gooden, we're talking about shifts that happened over the course of years.

If you clear your mind, and just listen, you'll begin to hear the shift - as it's starting now. At least, that's what I hear.

Then again, maybe I just need a Q-Tip or something?

Posted by Steve Lombardi at July 21, 2006 03:00 PM

Comments

Steve, you read my mind. And damn you! I was going to post it at the blog I contribute to. I'm getting the sense from Peter Abraham's fine blog and from the rash of meta controversy round-up stories in mainstream outlets that this thing has reached the "jump the shark" point. People, even tabloid writers, are starting to realize, "holy sh*t, the horse is deader than dead and I kinda feel bad for it!" Perhaps I'm overestimating human nature, or underestimating man's capacity to abuse his fellow man, but I think there's going to be series of sympathy pieces in the news and a change in fan reaction in the Bronx.